Started My Retirement Flintlock Rifle Build This Morning

[Ohio Joe]

Here is a picture with the barrel's full in'letting completed... I didn't realize before seeing this picture I took, that it makes the barrel appear cockeyed in the channel.  I assure you it is completely squared, and not cockeyed. It's the angle I took this picture from that makes it look that way.

The next step will be the ramrod channel - but I need to wait on Track of the Wolf to send me my nose cap so I can double check the distance between the bottom of the barrel and the top of the ramrod channel - before I do any cutting in this area. I believe it will be 1/4 inch (based on others I've order from them in the past), but I need to be sure. The channel turned out real nice. I guess I still have my technique down with doing it the old fashion way, using my wood chisels and home made barrel channeling scrapers and sanding blocks. 

[rollingb]

Lookin' good! 

[Uncle Russ]

Lookin' good! 

Same whut Rondo seez!   

 
 

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Rondo and Russ, 

Here's where I'm at this morning;

Figured I practice a little Ramrod Thimble inletting since I'm ready to start on the Ramrod channel.



Everybody's a critic, LOL! Yes Smokey, I'm gonna get to that when the time comes...lol!!!

[Ohio Joe]

No picture tonight on this, I'm tired; Ramrod channel & drilled hole is completed and checks out a-o-k... When hand drilling with the brace & bit, I got within 2-1/2 inches of being done and I was wore out - so I cheated and got my hammer drill out and powered through that last 2-1/2 inches. I'll post up a few pictures sometime tomorrow.

[Uncle Russ]

No picture tonight on this, I'm tired; Ramrod channel & drilled hole is completed and checks out a-o-k... When hand drilling with the brace & bit, I got within 2-1/2 inches of being done and I was wore out - so I cheated and got my hammer drill out and powered through that last 2-1/2 inches. I'll post up a few pictures sometime tomorrow.

Geesh Joe, you be moving right along!  You be da Man in this rifle from scratch game......You and Rob, You two guys can knock 'em out faster than I can get 'em unpacked.
Keep up the good work! Practice makes perfect and I know you've got a few builds behind you.

[Ohio Joe]

Thanks Russ, this should be stock number 16/17 that I've made (if I'm remembering right)?

I've only bought 3 stocks (for parts builds) with the in'letting already done, in my life, (I don't count the CVA, TC, or Lyman kits) and decided I could make them for a'lot less (for my parts) then I could buy them for.

I've made rifles for myself and other folks (new builds or just restocking a persons muzzleloader). I like to combine new and old school technology as everything seems to come together. If I had to do this for a living - I don't believe I would enjoy it as much. In fact, I'd probably hate it... lol!!!

All in all, this is probably my last build. I'm just not as spry as I use to be, and I can feel that in my muscles. Now remember I said, "probably"    

My setup for drilling for Ramrod (I'll clean my bench off today, lol!)


View of stock with rameod hole completed


View of stck with the lock I'll use for this rifle

[rollingb]

Joe,.... your shop looks better organized than mine, and you even have a broom to call your own (I have to borrow one from the house)! 

[blackpowderbill]

Nice and squared up! Looking great.

[Ohio Joe]

Joe,.... your shop looks better organized than mine, and you even have a broom to call your own (I have to borrow one from the house)! 

Oh it's not that organized, but I plan on cleaning it up today or tomorrow.  You know, Cindy was gonna throw that broom away 'cause she got a new one - well I just snagged right onto that - but she wouldn't show me how it works. 

Nice and squared up! Looking great.

Bill, I think she's as square as she's gonna get. 

I've been looking for some pictures to study rifles without the nose cap.  I'm now thinking of going that route with this one. I figure I can always add a nose cap down the road if I feel I need to.

If you guys run across any pictures - send me a link if you don't mind.   

[Ohio Joe]

I like the looks of the "no nose cap" on this one.

[rollingb]

I like the looks of the "no nose cap" on this one.

 

[Ohio Joe]

Well I laid out the hardware that I'll refurbish for this build that came off other rifles I reworked over the years. Sorry about the quality of the picture, but it shows the "location" of the thimbles and (the barrel tenons I made yesterday afternoon), along with the location of the front and rear sights.

It's a real nice morning for a change with good 'ol sunshine coming through my workshop window. I'm hoping this is a sign of nice weather to finally come our way.

I have allowed for a 1 inch nose cap should I decide to go with one.

[Ohio Joe]

I haven't posted a picture lately of my retirement rifle, mainly do to having my 9 year old grandson spend 3 weeks with me (which I wouldn't trade for anything), and this past weekend he went back home so ol' grandpa decided to get back to this project to take my mined off missing that little feller.

I got the lock installed (L&R Flintlock) and the top of the barrel channel cut to where I like it. My next step will be doing some more shaping on of stock then I'll move on to making a trigger plate and trigger...

However, the above won't happen until next week... As I was typing this post, Herren Brothers called me (that's where I retired from) and asked if I'd fill in tomorrow and Friday since they'll be short handed. Heck, I told them I would since I don't have anything going on that's pressing.

[Bigsmoke]

Joe,
You got that rifle gun about to the point where you need to be starting in on it with a tomahawk, ala Wallace Gussler.
Every time I watch that video (the Gunsmith of Williamsburg) I cringe when he brings it out and starts whacking.
Looking good so far.
John